The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Ecclestone hopes for Nuerburgring deal this week Posted: 08 Jan 2013 07:24 AM PST
The 82-year-old (picture) also said that the calendar, approved by the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) last November, would have 19 races rather than the 20 slots available. The calendar has the German race listed for July 7 at a circuit to be confirmed and another unnamed European round pencilled in for July 21 and intended for Turkey before talks stalled over money. The Nuerburgring and Hockenheim have alternated as venues for the German Grand Prix in recent years, with the former due to host this year's round. However the circuit's financial problems have led to uncertainty. "It should be the Nuerburgring and we are trying to make it happen," said Ecclestone in a telephone conversation. "I'm talking with them today." The billionaire, who has expanded the calendar to new destinations far from the sport's European heartland, played down suggestions Hockenheim could step in. Circuit owners Nuerburgring GmbH, who are 90 per cent owned by the German regional state of Rhineland-Palatinate, has run into financial trouble amid a dispute with track operator NAG over leasing fees. The state authorities are under pressure to make the track pay after pouring millions of euros into a racing-themed amusement park there. The circuit is due to be put up for auction later this year but Nuerburgring managing director Thomas Schmidt, who runs the company with an insolvency administrator, said in November that they had agreed with NAG to plan for 2013 regardless of the dispute. The race is a home one for Red Bull's triple world champion Sebastian Vettel, who has yet to win a grand prix on German soil, as well as for car maker Mercedes who now have Britain's 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton partnering Germany's Nico Rosberg in their works team. – Reuters |
| Modric adapting to Spain, says Real team mate Alonso Posted: 08 Jan 2013 07:06 AM PST
Modric, 27 (picture), left Tottenham Hotspur in August and has started only eight of his new club's 18 La Liga matches and three of six Champions League games. Alonso, coach Jose Mourinho's preferred choice alongside Germany's Sami Khedira in central midfield, said he himself needed time to adjust when he returned to Spain from Tottenham's English rivals Liverpool in 2009. "There are a few of us competing for that position and he is adapting to a new club and a new league," Alonso told a news conference ahead of tomorrow's King's Cup last 16, second leg at home to Celta Vigo. "I found it difficult in my first season after coming from the Premier League but he is very well integrated, he is a fantastic lad and a great player. I have no doubt he will be important (to us)." Real need to overturn a 2-1 deficit from last month's first leg in Vigo if they are to secure a meeting with Valencia or Osasuna in the quarter-finals. Lying third in La Liga, Mourinho's side have looked ragged in defence in recent weeks and Alonso said stopping Celta scoring an away goal at the Bernabeu would be key to their progress. – Reuters |
LONDON, Jan 8 – The Nuerburgring is set to host this year's German Grand Prix and a deal could be agreed this week after further talks, Formula One's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said today.
MADRID, Jan 8 – Xabi Alonso has backed Real Madrid team mate Luka Modric to come good despite an indifferent start to the Croatia midfielder's La Liga career.| You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider :: Sports To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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